In Memory of “BOBO” Bonadies – OUR Skydiving Instructor

Robert John Bonadies “Bobby” “Bobo”, 47, beloved companion, devoted father, grandfather, brother, and true friend died unexpectedly Monday (May 6, 2002).

Born in Hartford, November 24, 1954, he is the son of Patricia (Plummer) Bonadies of Simsbury and the late Nicholas V. Bonadies. He was a loyal brother for IBEW Local #35 since 1973, and he has lived in Vernon for the past 21 years. He was a familiar sight throughout Tolland County, logging thousands of miles training for his many marathons and races as well as being the trainer for the Leukemia Society and Diabetes marathon runners and walkers.

Bob was the current president of Connecticut Parachutists and a member of the United States Parachutists Association for 22 years. Bob was a dedicated and thorough instructor, putting the needs and well-being of his students first. He will be deeply missed by his loving family and friends.

Besides his mother, Bob is survived by his love and companion for 24 years, Lisa Miller Bonadies of Vernon; and his treasured children, Gena, Nicholas, Allison and her husband Dean, and Christopher and his wife Kim; three grandchildren, Courtney, Timothy, and Margaret Mary Rose; two brothers, Richard Bonadies of Canton, and Nicholas Bonadies of Farmington; four sisters, Kathleen Hawkes of South Windsor, Patty Smith of South Windsor, Cary Panciera of Manchester, and Dana Bonadies of Middletown.

“Once upon a time, on a day that looked like any other day, someone like no one else came along and made life into something that would never be the same,” Blue Skies. Published in The Hartford Courant from May 8 to May 9, 2002

Posthumously, Bobo was awarded a Carnegie Hero Medal.

Robert J. Bonadies died after rescuing Cynthia M. Hyland from falling, Ellington, Connecticut, May 6, 2002. Ms. Hyland, 42, and her skydiving instructors, Bonadies, 47, electrician, and another man, jumped from an aircraft at an altitude of 12,000 feet and began a stable free fall. Descending past the point at which students were to deploy their main parachutes, Ms. Hyland and her instructors went into an unstable formation, tumbling and increasing their speed. At 2,000 feet, the other instructor broke away and deployed his parachute, while Bonadies remained with Ms. Hyland. They continued to fall, and, at about 800 feet above ground level, Bonadies deployed Ms. Hyland’s main parachute. Her reserve opened immediately after. It was too late for Bonadies to deploy his own parachute, and he struck the ground and was killed. The other instructor and Ms. Hyland landed safely.